Combined shutter and awning



March 1 c. F. MILLER COMBINED SHUTTER AND AWNING Filed Feb, 12, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ya) 23:: i

(1m. FMZZer March 6, 1934. c MlLLER 1,949,573

COMBINED SHUTTER AND- AWNING Filed Feb. 12, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 7. E 2O F Chas. F jl fz'l Z er March 6, 1934. c. F. MILLER COMBINED SHUTTER AND AWNING r u I w a m a ,W

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3 m 6 F 'W m w s Patented Mar. 6, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED SHUTTER. AND AWNING Charles F. Miller, Miami, Fla. Application' February 12, 1929; Serial No. 339,446

21 Claims.

My invention relates to protective devices for Window openings and the like and has for its object the provision of means adapted to serve either as a shutter or closure for the opening or as an awning therefor.

The principal feature of my invention consists in providing an opening such as a window opening with a plurality of relatively movable sections which are pivotally connected to move into substantial vertical alinement' to close the opening or into overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor.

' Another feature of the invention resides in pivotally associating a plurality of movable sections with a window opening, the pivotal axes of the sections being vertically spaced and the lower one of said sections being movable into substantial vertical alinement with the upper one or into overlapping relation with the inner face of the latter whereby said sections respectively serve as a closure or as an awning for the opening.

A further feature of the invention consists in providing a window opening with a plurality of relatively movable sections which are pivotally connected by rigid means adapted to actuate said sections to move them into vertical alinement or into overlapping relation to respectively serve as a closure or an awning for the opening.

A still further feature of the invention resides in providing an opening with a plurality of relatively movable sections which are respectively pivotally mounted adjacent the opening one above the other, the upper one of said sections having rotatable means which is pivotally connected to the lower one, said sections being arranged so that when'said means is rotated they may move either into vertical alinement to close the opening or into overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor.

A still further feature of the invention con sists in pivotally associating the sections with an opening so that the lower edge of theupper one of said sections isalways disposed below the upper edge of the lower one of said sections and so that the sections are disposed in spaced planes in all intermediate positions of adjustment thereby insuring free passage of air but obstructing the direct passage of light; I

Other and more specific features of the invention residing in advantageous forms and combinations and relations of parts will hereinafter appear and be pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention:

Figure l is a side elevational View of the device Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken online 3-3, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 4-4, Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5, Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66, Figure 4. v

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are side elevational views showing the device in difierent intermediate positions of adjustment.

Figure 10 is a detail sectional viewillustrating the manner of attaching a valance to the upper section.

Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the means employed for assisting movement of the sections into a position wherein one of them may be engaged by locking means carried by the window frame.

Figure 12 is an enlarged side elevational View of the hook for locking the sections in closed position.

Referring more particularly to the drawingsl indicates the wall of a building having an opening 2 within which is mounted a window frame 3 provided with a plurality of sliding sashes 4.

The protective device for the opening generally consists of two relatively movable sections 5 and 6 pivotally associated with the window opening and adapted to be moved into either substantial vertical alinement, as clearly shown in Figure 3, to act as a closure for the opening or into overlapping relation, as shown in Figure 4, to serve as an awning for the opening. While these sections may be made from any suitable material they are illustrated in the present instance as being made of wood and each may advantageously be reinforced by transversely extending wooden strips or bars '7. In order that the device may simulate in appearance the usual canvas awning, the outer face of the upper section may be covered with any desired waterproof fabric 8 and the bottom and sides thereof may be provided with suitable valances 9 and 10, respectively. The valances are preferably secured to the section 5 in a manner so that they may be readily removed when it is intended to leave the device in closed position for a relatively long time such as when a building is closed for a season. For this purpose the side and bottom edges of the section 5 are provided with metal strips 11 suitably flanged as at 12 to form a slot 13 for receiving a metal binding strip 14 to which the valance is attached.

Disposed above the window opening is an angle iron having flanges 15 and 16, the former being secured to the outer surface of the building by attaching means 17 and the latter projecting outwardly therefrom substantially normal thereto. The upper section 5 is hingedly connected to the projecting flange 16 adjacent its outer edge in any convenient manner, as by brackets 18, the hinged connection being arranged so that the top edge of the section will lie entirely under the said flange whereby the latter will serve as means for preventing water from seeping between the section and the window opening.

Pivotally mounted upon the lower section 6 by brackets 19 are a plurality of arms 20 and 21, respectively, which are rotatably secured by brackets 22 to an intermediate portion of the window frame. The arms are of unequal length and the shorter ones 20 cooperate with the upper portion of the section so that as the section is being moved from one position of adjustment to another the lower edge thereof will always be disposed outwardly of the upper edge thereof. It will thus be appreciated that as this section is being moved from the position indicated in Figure 3 to that in Figure 4 the angle it forms with the vertical progressively increases. The upper arms 20 are disposed inwardly of the lower arms 21 to permit them to overlap each other laterally when the section assumes a substantially vertical position and the lower arms may advantageously be rigidly connected by an intermediate portion 23 which serves as additional means for rigidifying the lower edge of the section. This portion 23 of the arms is preferably arranged to lie in the angle formed by the upper edge of the lower reinforcing strip 7 and the body portion of the section.

As it is desirable to have one mechanism for operating both sections 5 and 6 means 24 is preferably pivotally interposed between them so that movement of one will induce movement of the other. This means comprises a plurality of arms 25 which are respectively pivotally connected by brackets 26 to the lower edge of the upper section and the upper edge of the lower section. Instead of employing separate arms for this purpose the portions thereof cooperating with the upper section are rigidly connected by a horizontal part 27 which also serves as additional means for rigidifying the lower edge of the upper section. Thus it will be seen that should the upper section be caused to rotate about its pivotal axis the arms 25 will cause the lower section to move and vice versa' The arms 20 and 21 are so proportioned and arranged that the point at which the arms 25 are pivotally connected to the lower section starts to move inwardly toward the window opening as the section is being moved from a vertical to an inclined position before the section assumes the position shown in Figure 4. The points at which the arms 25 are secured to the upper section is disposed so that when the opposite end of the arms start to move inwardly the arms will be substantially horizontal. It will thus be seen that since the horizontal distance between the opposite ends of the arms 25 starts to decrease after the arms have passed by the horizontal during the upward movement of the inner section, the outer section which has heretofore been rotating upwardly about its pivotal axis will start to rotate downwardly under the combined action of gravity and whatever force may be transmitted to it from the lower section through the arms. This downward rotation of the upper section and consequent inward. movement of the point at which the arms 25 are thereto attached will, through the intermediacy of the latter, automatically cause a continued upward movement of the lower section until arrested by engaging the former in the position shown in Figure 4. As the two sections just prior to assuming this position were moving in opposite directions it will be apparent that they become automatically locked.

Instead of applying force to either of the two sections for actuating them, the means 24 may be provided with a member 28 rigidly connected to that end of one of the arms which is pivotally secured to the lower section. Thus, since the member 28 is rigid with the arms 25 manipulation of the former will cause the arms to rotate with respect to the upper section thereby inducing movement of the lower section 6 and consequently movement of the upper section 5. It will be appreciated that the operating member 28 and the arms 25 form, in effect, a continuously extending rigid member which is rotatably journaled on the upper section and to which the inner section is pivotally connected at a point intermediate the opposite ends thereof. By this construction a leverage of sufficiently large magnitude is obtained so that the sections may be operated upon the application of a relatively small force to the inner end of the member 28. Force may be applied to this end of the arm by providing its extremity with an eye 29 affording means to which opposite ends of an operating cord 30 may be attached. Portions of the window frame 3 are preferably cut away adjacent the top and bottom thereof to receive pulleys 31 or the like for cooperating with the cord 30 so that the device may be conveniently operated from within the building. Suitable means, such as a bracket 32 may be attached to the side of the window frame for coacting with the cord to sustain the sections in any desired positions of adjustment.

When the sectionsof the device are of such size or are made from such material that they are particularly heavy, a plurality of spring devices 33 may -be used for counterbalancing them. In the present embodiment of the invention the spring devices employed are of the coil spring type and their opposite ends are respectively attached to the upper portion of each section by brackets or'hooks 34. When the sections are in vertical alinement as illustrated in Figures 3 and 5 the springs are in tension so that they tend to cause the lower section 6 to move upwardly relatively to the upper section 5.

Hook devices 35 may advantageously be employed for locking the sections in closed position to prevent their unauthorized opening. These devices are mounted on the window frame at opas posite sides of the opening and each comprises a screw 36 and hook member 37 having a ledge or shoulder 38. The hook member is preferably ill-5 made from sheet metal pressed into the desired shape and one end of the screw 36 which is squared is housed within the hook member and pivotally connected thereto by a rivet or stud 39. Secured to the lower edge of the upper section at its opposite sides are suitably shaped brackets or plates 40 respectively adapted to co- I wardly until the ledge 38 thereof passes the inner tion to move into contiguous Overlapping relaface of the brackets at which time the hooks will gravitate into locking position.

Since the leverage obtained by manipulating the sections by the arm 28 and the cord 30 approaches a minimum as the sections are being moved to closed position it is desirable to provide means which may be operated from within the building to move the sections to closed position should the operating mechanism employed be ineffective for this purpose. To this end portions of the window frame adjacent the locking devices are apertured as at 42 to permit the insertion of a bar or rod 43 having a hooked end 44. After the sections have been moved as near as possible toclosed position by the cord 30 the hooked end 44 of the rod 43 may then be inserted through the opening 42 to engage the inner face of the bracket 40. By then pulling the rod inwardly the sections are caused to assume a position such that the hooks 37 may lockingly cooperate with the brackets. It will be appreciated that the brackets are so proportioned that the rod 43 and the hook 3'7 may simultaneously coact therewith. The apertures 42 may be provided with pivotally mounted cover plates 45 which will gravitate into a position to close them.

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation of the device will be apparent. When the sections are in the locked position illustrated in the Figure 3 and it is desired to move them to the position shown in Figure 4 the rod 43 is first inserted through apertures 42 in the window frame into engagementwith the hooks 37 to raise them to inoperative position. The cord 30 within the window frame is then pulled downwardly causing upward movement of the arm 28 and consequent outward rotation of the sections 5 and 6. As heretofore explained, after the point at which the arms 25 is attached to lower section, passes above that point at which they are attached to the upper section, the sections will automatically assume the position indicated in Figure 4 and are automatically locked therein. It will of course be appreciated that the sections may be sustained in any intermediate position of adjustment such as shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9 by winding or wrapping the cord 30 around the bracket 32. Upon inspection of these figures it will beseen that in each view the sections are disposed in spaced relation and that the lower edge of the upper section is below the upper edge of the lower section thereby permitting free passage of air but obstructing the direct passage of light.

Iclaim:

1. A protective device for a window opening involving a plurality of bodily displaceablesections, independent means pivotally associating each of said sections with said window opening, and means including an arm pivotally connected to each of said sections whereby the latter may be disposed in substantial vertical alinement to completely close said opening or in overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor.

2. A protective device for a window opening involving upper and lowerrelatively movable sectionspivotally associated with said window opening to serve as a closure therefor or as an awning, said sections when-constituting a closure for the opening being disposed in substantial vertical alinement and the upper one of said sections being hinged adjacent the top of said opening, and means pivotally interposed between said sections for causing the outer face of the lower section with the inner face of the upper section when the device serves as an awning for the opening.

3. A protective device for a window opening involving upper and lower bodily displaceable sections pivotally associated with the opening, the pivotal axes of said sections being vertically spaced, and means including an arm pivotally connected to each of said sections for causing the lower pivoted section to move into substantial vertical alinement with the upper section to completely close said opening or into overlapping relation with the inner face of the upper section to serve as an awning for said opening.

4. A protective device for a window opening involving relatively movable sections pivotally associated with the opening, arm means movably mounted on one of said sections and pivotally connected to the other of said sections, and flexible means connected directly to said arm means for operating the latter whereby said sections may be moved into substantial vertical alinement for closing said opening or into overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor.

5. A protective device for a window opening involving a plurality of relatively movable sections, said sections being adapted to be disposed in substantial vertical alinement to completely close said opening or in overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor, one of said sections being pivotally mounted adjacent the top of said opening, means movably connecting said sections including an arm pivotally secured to each of said sections, and means for rotating said last-named means for inducing movements of said sections.

6. A protective device for a window opening involving a plurality of bodily displaceable sections pivotally associated with said opening to serve as a closure or as an awning therefor, the pivotal axes of said sections being vertically spaced, the lower edge of the upper pivoted section being disposed adjacent the upper edge of the lower pivoted section when the sections are in position to serve as a closure for the window opening and being disposed adjacent the lower edge of the lower section when the sections are in position to serve as an awning for the opening.

7. A protective device for a window opening involving a plurality of relatively movable sections pivotally associated with said opening to serve as a closure or as an awning therefor, one of said sections being pivotally mounted adjacent the top of said opening, a plurality of arms of unequal length for pivotally connecting the other of said sections to the opening below the pivotal axis of the other of said sections, and means pivotally connecting said sections whereby movement ,of one of said sections will induce movement of the other.

8. A protective device for a window opening in volving a plurality of movable sections pivotally associated with said opening and movable into substantial vertical alinement to completely close said opening and into overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor, and means operatively interposed between said sections whereby movement of one induces movement of the other, said means including an arm pivotally connected to one of said sections adjacent its lower edge and to theother of said section adjacent its upper edge, the pivotal point of said arm on the lower section being disposed below the pivotal point of said arm on the upper section when the sections are-in vertical alinement and being disposed above the latter when they are in overlapping relation.

9. A protective device for a window opening involving upper and lower sections movable into substantial vertical alinement to completely close the opening or into overlapping relation to serve as an awning for the opening, said upper section being hingedly mounted adjacent the upper edge of said opening, rigid means for pivotally associating the lower section with the opening at a point below the hinge axis of the upper section, and means movably connecting said sections including a plurality of arms respectively pivotally connected to each of said sections.

10. A protective device for a window opening involving upper and lower sections movable into substantial vertical alinement or into overlapping relation for respectively serving as a closure or an awning for the opening, said upper section being hingedly mounted adjacent the upper edge of said opening, a plurality of arms for pivotally associating said lower section with the opening, said arms being of unequal length and the shorter of said arms being connected to said section above the other of said arms, and rigid means pivotally connecting said sections, the pivotal axis of said means on the lower section being disposed respectively below and above the pivotal axis there-- of on the upper section when the sections are respectively in vertical alinement and in overlapping relation.

11. A protective device for a window opening involving upper and lower sections movable into substantial vertical alinement to completely close the opening or into overlapping relation to serve as an awning for the opening, said upper section being hingedly mounted adjacent the upper edge of said opening, means pivotally associating said lower section with the opening, said means being arranged to cause the opposite edges of said lower section to move in non-concentric paths, and arms pivotally connected to each of said sections, the pivotal axis of said arms on the lower section being movable inwardly toward the window opening after the arms have been caused to assume a horizontal position as the lower section is being moved upwardly.

12. A protective device for a Window opening involving upper and lower sections movable into substantial vertical alinement to completely close the opening or into overlapping relation to serve as an awning for the opening, said upper section being hingedly mounted adjacent the top of said opening, means pivotally associating the lower section with said opening, said means being arranged to cause opposite edges of said section to movein non-concentric paths, and means including an arm pivotally attached to the upper section adjacent its lower edge and to the lower section adjacent its upper edge for connecting said sections whereby movement of one will induce movement of the other.

13. A protective device for a window opening involving upper and lower sections movable into substantial vertical alinement or into overlapping relation for respectively serving as a closure or as an awning for the opening, means pivotally associating the lower section with said opening, said means being arranged to cause opposite edges of said section to move in non-concentric paths, means pivotally connecting said sections, and spring means operatively interposed between said sections for counterbalancing them.

14,-. A protective device for a window opening involving upper and lower sections movable into substantial vertical alinement or into overlapping relation for respectively serving as a closure or as an awning for the opening, said upper section being hingedly mounted adjacent the top of said opening, means pivotally associating the lower section with said opening, said means being arranged to cause opposite edges of said section to move in non-concentric paths, and a member pivotally connecting said sections, said member having a rigid extension constituting an arm to which force may be applied to cause simultaneous movement of said sections.

15. A protective device for a window opening involving relatively movable upper and lower sections adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical alinement to completely close the opening or in overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor, said upper section being hingedly mounted adjacent the top of the window opening, means rotatably mounted adjacent the sides of the openingand pivotally connected to said lower section, and an arm pivotally connected to each of said sections, said arm being disposed in a substantially vertical position when said sections are in vertical alinement and in an inclined position when the latter are in overlapping relation.

16. A protective device for a window opening involving relatively movable upper and lower sections, said upper section being hingedly mounted adjacent the top of the window opening, means rotatably mounted adjacent the sides of the opening and pivotally connected to the lower section, and an arm pivotally connected to each of said sections for bodily displacing the latter whereby they may be disposed in substantially vertical alinement to completely close said opening or in overlapping relation to serve as an awning for the opening.

17. A protective device for a windowv opening involving relatively movable upper and lower sections adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical alinement to completely close the opening or in overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor, and an arm pivotally connected to each of said sections, said arm and lower section being movable upwardly between the upper section and window opening when the sections are moved from closure to awning position.

18. A protective device for a window opening involving relatively movable upper and lower sections adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical alinement to completely close the opening or in overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor, an arm pivotally mounted on said upper section and connected to said lower section, said arm being disposed on one side of a horizontal line passing through its pivotal axis when the device is in closure position and being disposed on the opposite side of said horizontal line when the device is in awning position.

19. A protective device for a window opening involving upper and lower relatively movable sections adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical alinement to serve as a closure for the opening or in overlapping relation to serve as an awning therefor, and an arm pivotally connected to each of said sections, said arm serving to cause the lower section to be bodily displaced with respect to the upper section as the device is moved from closure to awning position and to cause the outer face of the lower section to move into contiguous relation with the inner face of the upper section.

20. A protective device for a window opening adapted to serve selectively as a shutter and as an awning, said device involving an up er section and a lower section, said sections being adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical alignment when the device is in shutter position and being adapted to be disposed in inclined positions when the device is in awning position, means movably connecting said sections for causing the lower section to underlap the upper section when the device is moved to awning position, said means including an arm pivotally connected to each of said sections, and means for maintaining the upper edge of the lower section above the lower edge thereof during movement of the lower section from one operative position to another.

21. A protective device for a window opening adapted to serve selectively as an awning and as a shutter, said device involving an upper section and a lower section, said lower section being adapted to be disposed in substantially vertical alignment with the upper section when the device is in shutter position and said lower section being adapted to be disposed in lapping relation with the inner face of said upper section when the device is in awning position, rigid means movably connecting said sections, said means being pivotally connected to each of said sections so that when the device is in awning position the front and rear faces of the lower section are disposed in the same relative position with respect to the corresponding faces of the upper section as when the device is in shutter position.

CHARLES F. MILLER. 

